Snails at waterline

S

Slovak

[Received my cleanup crew from Etropicals yesterday. Assortment of 18 snails (mexican turbo, nassarius, cerith, bumble bee), peppermint shrimp, queen conch, emerald crab and half a dozen scarlet reef hermit crabs.

Everyone seems to be getting along great - most of the inverts took to the detritus and algea right away. Water params are: temp-79; pH-8.1; ammonia-0; nitrite-0; nitrate<10; SG-1.025.

However, about 1/2 of my snails now reside on the tank glass just at the waterline. Is this normal? Somehow I don't think they are along for a stroll and fresh air.

Peter...]
 
[That sounds funny. You should see my ceriths all line up along the lower edge of the glass at night, all pointing straight down. Yere's one.

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[Most of mine are below the waterline - a few do seem to prefer being at the waterline - dunno if the algae is different at the waterline (I 'spect it would be) or just more tender.
However, the thing is to know that some snails just prefer being at the waterline and it's okay that way.]
 
[I am glad mine are not the only snails that like to get close to the waterline. I think it's the newbie syndrome. I am paranoid about anything I put in my tank. But I want to make sure I take care of my livestock properly.

Is it possible my LMB has grown about an inch in the last 5 days? He definitely got darker in color since I picked him up at the LFS, and has been nibbling on rocks ever since. Definitely a great personality!

Peter...]
 
[Water quality effects the reactions of even saltwater inverts. Could be a shipping syndrome but, have you checked your water parameters?

I ask because you said all the snails (one or two is normal and even common) more is kind of a question?]
 
[Brian -

according to my last measurements, all my water params are fine. I think the snails have adjusted to their new home, as there is now only the occasional one along the waterline. The rest of them are too busy with cleaning up the LR.

Peter...]
 
[I have some 'mud snails' (forget the sci name, genus name starts with "I" almost 100% sure)

They are similar to a Nassarius snail, in that they have a 'nose tube' and a probing mouth. They burrow and fight for meat like a N Vibrex. However, they also will get on the glass and eat algae.

My 10gal occasionally gets grungy with a film on the surface (2 firefish is quite the bioload for a 10gal. When I get 'floaters' I am bound to find these mud snails at the water like. They will use there mouth to eat the scum right off the water surface... I consider them living protein skimmers!!]
 
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